Lahinch

Ireland's surf capital — fun beach break for all levels

Lahinch is Ireland's most popular surf town, centered on an exposed beach break in County Clare that offers consistent waves for all abilities across nearly two kilometers of sandy shoreline. The main beach produces fun lefts and rights that are ideal for beginners and improvers, while the reef breaks at Cornish Left and Shit Creek on either end of the bay serve up hollow, powerful waves for experienced surfers. It picks up west and southwest groundswells as well as local wind swell, with east winds providing the best offshore conditions. The wave works at all stages of the tide, though lower tides tend to produce hollower waves on the sandbars. Lahinch has a thriving surf culture with multiple surf schools, board rentals, and a vibrant town with pubs, restaurants, and live music. Spring and autumn deliver the best combination of swell size and manageable winds. A 4/3mm wetsuit is needed in summer, stepping up to 5/4mm with accessories in winter.

Type

Beach, Left, Right

Crowd

3 / 5

Safety

9 / 10

Price

$$

Best months to surf

Spring, Fall

Other things to do in the area

Visit the Cliffs of Moher (13 minutes away)

Play championship golf at Lahinch Golf Club

Kayak the River Inagh through Ennistymon

Explore the Burren and Doolin Cave

Current forecast

Surfline